🇮🇳 India Win Thriller at The Oval by 6️⃣ Runs: Series Ends 2️⃣-2️⃣ in Style

The 5th and final Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy 2025 between India 🆚 England, played at The Oval, London (July 31 – August 4), produced a jaw-dropping finish worthy of cricket folklore.

With the series on the line, India held their nerve to win by just 6 runs, levelling the series 2-2 and showcasing everything that makes Test cricket timeless — grit, drama, unpredictability, and genius under pressure.

From Yashasvi Jaiswal’s elegant century 💯 to Mohammed Siraj’s fiery 9-wicket haul 🔥, and a brave English fight led by Harry Brook and Joe Root, this was a contest that kept fans on the edge of their seats till the final delivery.

🏏 Series Snapshot: The Story So Far

Going into this final Test, the series stood at:

✅ 1st Test (Leeds): England won by 5 wickets
✅ 2nd Test (Birmingham): India roared back with a 336-run win
✅ 3rd Test (Lord’s): England edged out India by 22 runs
🤝 4th Test (Manchester): Drawn due to rain

That made the 5th Test at The Oval a virtual final. England wanted a famous home series win, while India were chasing redemption and parity.

⚡ Quick Match Summary

Innings	Score	Highlights
🇮🇳 India 1st Innings	224 all out	Jadeja 57, Atkinson 5️⃣ wickets
🏴 England 1st Innings	247 all out	Crawley 64, Siraj & Prasidh 4️⃣ each
🇮🇳 India 2nd Innings	396 all out	Jaiswal 118 💯, Akash Deep 66, Jadeja 53
🏴 England 2nd Innings	367 all out	Brook 111, Root 105, Siraj 5️⃣ wickets

✅ India won by 6 runs
🤝 Series drawn 2-2

📆 Day-by-Day Breakdown

🔹 Day 1: England Dominate, India Stumble to 224

Opting to bowl first under overcast skies, England’s bowlers capitalized on the conditions. Gus Atkinson 🎯 was the star with 5 wickets, supported by Josh Tongue (3 wickets), dismantling India’s top order.

Only Ravindra Jadeja (57) showed resistance. Contributions from Sai Sudharsan (38) and Washington Sundar (26) pushed India to 224, a total that looked below par.

🔹 Day 2: Siraj, Prasidh Swing Back as England Lead by 23

England started confidently with Zak Crawley’s 64 and Harry Brook’s 53, but Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna had other ideas. Both took 4 wickets each, triggering a collapse from 176/3 to 247 all out.

England took a slim 23-run lead, but momentum had clearly shifted.

🔹 Day 3: Jaiswal’s Masterclass Sets Big Target

Yashasvi Jaiswal played one of the finest knocks of his young career — 118 off 164 balls — showcasing patience, strokeplay, and composure.

He was supported brilliantly by:

Akash Deep’s surprising 66 off 94 balls 🎯
Jadeja’s 53 (his second fifty of the match)
Sundar’s 53, helping India post a massive 396

England now needed to chase 374, their highest-ever 4th innings target at The Oval. The match was alive and kicking.

🔹 Day 4: Brook & Root Counter, But India Strike Late ⚔️

England began the chase well with Ben Duckett’s 54, but it was the Brook-Root partnership that lit up Day 4.

Harry Brook smashed 111 off 98 balls 🧨
Joe Root crafted a classy 105 off 152 deliveries 🧱

Their 195-run stand looked like a match-winner. However, late wickets from Prasidh Krishna and Siraj reduced England to 339/6 at stumps.

With 35 runs needed and 4 wickets remaining, Day 5 was set up perfectly.

🔹 Day 5: Siraj Seals the Deal 🔥

Cometh the hour, cometh Mohammed Siraj.

He bowled with heart and heat, removing Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue, and finally Gus Atkinson — bowled by a toe-crushing yorker 🦶💥 — to end the English innings at 367.

India won by just 6 runs, pulling off one of their greatest overseas victories in modern times.

🌟 Top Performers of the Match

🔥 Batting Highlights

Player	Team	Runs	Balls	Strike Rate	Notes
Yashasvi Jaiswal	🇮🇳 India	118	164	71.95	Century that set up match
Harry Brook	🏴 England	111	98	113.26	Blitz that nearly won it
Joe Root	🏴 England	105	152	69.07	Anchor role
Akash Deep	🇮🇳 India	66	94	70.21	Lower-order heroics
Ravindra Jadeja	🇮🇳 India	57 & 53	-	-	All-round contribution

🎯 Bowling Highlights

Player	Team	Wickets	Match Notes
Mohammed Siraj	🇮🇳 India	9	4 in 1st, 5 in 2nd – Match-winner
Gus Atkinson	🏴 England	5	India 1st innings
Josh Tongue	🏴 England	5	India 2nd innings
Prasidh Krishna	🇮🇳 India	4	England 1st innings

🏆 Player of the Match: Mohammed Siraj

🔥 9 wickets
🎯 Match-turning spell on Day 5
💪 Unwavering intensity under pressure

Siraj’s bowling was the single biggest reason India clinched this classic. His ability to reverse the old ball, maintain pressure, and pick wickets at crucial junctures earned him a well-deserved Player of the Match award.

📊 Records and Fun Facts

🧮 This was India’s third-smallest Test win by runs, after 1-run vs Australia (2021) and 5-run vs West Indies (1974).
🏟️ England’s 367 is now the second-highest 4th innings total in a losing cause at home.
💯 Jaiswal’s ton was his third in Tests, making him India’s most consistent opener post-Rohit era.
⚠️ A staggering 98 runs came via extras — a modern Test record for most extras in a match between these two nations.

🌍 Series Recap: India Salvage Draw, England Left Wondering

The series finishes 2-2, but India will feel like winners:

✅ Dominant at Birmingham
🔁 Resilient at The Oval
💥 New stars emerged (Jaiswal, Akash Deep)
💎 Siraj became a red-ball spearhead

England had their moments, but failing to capitalize on key phases cost them the series win. Still, performances from Brook, Root, and Atkinson bode well for the future.

🔮 What Lies Ahead?

🇮🇳 India: Next Test assignment is likely a home series against New Zealand, crucial for World Test Championship (WTC) standings.
🏴 England: Set to tour South Africa next — a stern challenge for Bazball.

📌 Conclusion: A Classic Test for the Ages 🏏🔥

The 5th Test at The Oval had it all — grit, guts, brilliance, collapses, and a finish that will be replayed for years to come. It reaffirmed why we still love Test cricket in the T20 era.

With new heroes like Jaiswal, seasoned stars like Root, and bowlers like Siraj giving it their all, the match wasn’t just a contest — it was a story of ambition, redemption, and legacy.

📅 As the cricketing world looks to the next big series, this match will remain a gold standard in modern Test match theater.